Little known tidbit of US Naval History
Started by
Landlocked Dive Nut
, Oct 29 2009 09:08 PM
7 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 29 October 2009 - 09:08 PM
The U. S. S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).
However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."
Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."
Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.
Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.
On 18 November, she set sail for England . In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.
By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland . Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.
The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey, and 38,600 gallons of water.
GO NAVY!!
However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."
Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."
Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.
Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.
On 18 November, she set sail for England . In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.
By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland . Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.
The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey, and 38,600 gallons of water.
GO NAVY!!
#2
Posted 30 October 2009 - 06:49 AM
That is just beautiful.
#3
Posted 30 October 2009 - 08:34 AM
I guess we know what they were drinking
#4
Posted 30 October 2009 - 09:03 AM
It's just so beautiful. . . .
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Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance. - Jean-Paul Sartre
I feel the urge, the urge to submerge! -ScubaHawk - Raptor of the Deep !
WHO DAT!!!!
#5
Posted 30 October 2009 - 04:48 PM
Few have consumed more than I while underway - even though it was illegal in the new Navy....
however - the math says these were truly admirable men - using the dates, quantities and crew complement -
Every officer and enlisted consumed, PER DAY, on average:
2.7 gallons of whiskey
1.76 gallons of rum
1.35 gallons of wine
This has been published in several places, but even I am skeptical about it's veracity
The difference between a fairy tale and a sea story:
A fairy tale begins : "Once upon a time"
A sea story begins : "This is no s**t"
however - the math says these were truly admirable men - using the dates, quantities and crew complement -
Every officer and enlisted consumed, PER DAY, on average:
2.7 gallons of whiskey
1.76 gallons of rum
1.35 gallons of wine
This has been published in several places, but even I am skeptical about it's veracity
The difference between a fairy tale and a sea story:
A fairy tale begins : "Once upon a time"
A sea story begins : "This is no s**t"
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#6
Posted 30 October 2009 - 05:35 PM
Maybe they sold some of the booze en route, to make some supplemental pay! We veterans all know how stingy Uncle Sam is with military pay.....
However the math works out, it's a known fact that sailors back then got their daily ration of grog, or there would be mutiny!
However the math works out, it's a known fact that sailors back then got their daily ration of grog, or there would be mutiny!
#7
Posted 30 October 2009 - 05:48 PM
Good thing they weren't divers... they'd be mighty dehydrated!
Edited by drbill, 30 October 2009 - 05:48 PM.
#8
Posted 31 October 2009 - 05:14 AM
Service/Duty was hard. Life expectancy was short so its doubtful many had to worry about the old saying...
"If I knew I'd live this long...I'd have taken better care of myself!"
"If I knew I'd live this long...I'd have taken better care of myself!"
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